Laptop

Here’s a comprehensive guide to track your lost laptop

December 15, 2024

Losing a laptop can be very stressful, and the chances of finding it? Minimal. But hey, that does not mean it is impossible. There are a few ways you can adapt (beforehand) to track your lost laptop. In this article, we’ll walk you through various ways to track your laptop if it goes missing.

Tracking a lost laptop

Use Built-in Tracking Software

Laptops provide you with GPS tracking software that comes pre-installed on your device.

Find My Device (Windows)

Windows 10 and 11 offer a built-in “Find My Device” feature that allows you to track your laptop if it goes missing. But let me make this clear to you, this isn’t a last-minute thing. You should have enabled this feature before the device went missing. Once and if your laptop is on and connects to the internet, you can track its location.

Here are the steps to track your lost Window Laptop:

Go to the Microsoft Device Page:
- Open a web browser on another device (any smartphone or another computer).
- Visit the Find My Device page: https://account.microsoft.com/devices
Sign in to Your Microsoft Account:
- Log in using the Microsoft account that is linked to the stolen or lost laptop.
Select the Device:
- After logging in, you will see a list of devices associated with your Microsoft account.
- Find your stolen laptop from the list and select it.
View the Location:
- If the laptop is online and connected to the internet, you will see its current location on a map. This is done through GPS or IP address triangulation (note that the accuracy may vary).

Note: If your lost laptop isn’t connected to the internet, this tracking feature won’t work until it does.

Find My (macOS)

Similarly, if you are a Mac user, macOS offers you the “Find My Mac” feature through iCloud. If this feature is enabled on your Mac, you can track its location once it connects to the internet.

Here are the steps to track your lost Mac:

Use Find My on Another Device:
- Open a web browser on any device (smartphone, tablet, or another computer).
- Visit the Find My page at: https://www.icloud.com/find
Sign in to iCloud:
- Log in using your Apple ID (the one linked to your lost Mac).
- Enter your password and two-factor authentication code if prompted.
Select Your Mac:
- Once logged in, you’ll see a map displaying all devices linked to your Apple ID.
- Select your lost Mac from the list of devices.
View the Location:
- If your Mac is online and connected to the internet, you’ll be able to see its location on the map.
- You can also view the battery level, which may give you an idea of how recently the device was active.

Note: If your Mac is offline, tracking won’t work until it connects to the internet.

Use anti-theft software

If you haven’t set up built-in tracking software or if you’re looking for more powerful tracking options, you can rely on third-party anti-theft software. These applications can help you track your laptop, lock it, and even erase its data remotely. Some of the popular options include Prey and LoJack (now Absolute Software).

Prey Anti-Theft Software

Prey is an anti-theft solution that allows you to track and control your laptop if it’s lost or stolen. To use Prey, you’ll need to install it on your laptop ahead of time and set up an account. The software has the “Missing” mode which will send reports including location, pictures, and screenshots on laptops BUT for this again the device MUST be on and connected to the internet.

How Prey works?

Install the Prey client on your laptop ( you can get it on the Play Store or App Store)
Create a Prey account and link to your device.
Then log into your Prey account from any device and track its location.
You can also remotely lock the laptop, display a message, or wipe the data.

Not to mention, you should have this device installed on your laptop before it gets lost or stolen. There’s no point in last-minute crying.

LoJack (Absolute Software)

LoJack, now known as Absolute Software, is another anti-theft solution embedded into your laptop’s firmware.

It operates silently in the background and provides real-time tracking. If your laptop gets stolen, you can log into your online account remotely lock your device, and delete sensitive files keeping them safe. Once this software receives a theft or lost report, it will switch to theft mode and accelerate Monitoring Centre communication when it gets connected to the internet and geolocate the device via GPS. However, this is a paid software.

Also, read:

How LoJack Works:

Install the LoJack software for your laptop and activate it.
Once activated, LoJack runs silently, tracking your laptop’s location even if it’s offline.
If your laptop is stolen, you can activate LoJack via your online account or by contacting Absolute Software.
LoJack uses GPS, Wi-Fi, and cellular signals to track your laptop. You can remotely lock it, wipe data, and track its real-time movement.

Check your laptop’s IP address

If your laptop connects to the Internet, you might be able to track its IP address—let me repeat, you MIGHT! However, this method is more technical and less reliable than using built-in tracking software or anti-theft apps.

How to Check the IP Address:

Check the login activity or device access logs if you’ve logged into any online accounts (such as Google, Dropbox, or other services). Some services allow you to view the IP addresses from which your account was accessed.
If the laptop connects to Wi-Fi, the IP address can give you a general idea of the location, but it is not as precise as GPS-based tracking.

Use a BIOS password

A BIOS password is another layer of security you can enable on your laptop. While it doesn’t directly help you track the laptop, it can prevent unauthorized users from accessing the device. It is responsible for booting up the computer before the operating system loads. By setting a BIOS password, you can prevent anyone from starting the laptop unless they know the password. While this doesn’t track the laptop, it acts as a deterrent and adds an extra layer of protection if a thief tries to use or sell the laptop.

Conclusion

Tracking a lost laptop is more challenging than tracking a smartphone, but there are several ways you can attempt to recover it. Enabling Find My Device on Windows or Find My Mac on macOS is the easiest way to track your device if it connects to the internet. You can also install anti-theft software like Prey or LoJack for added protection. Finally, using IP address tracking and setting a BIOS password can help increase your chances of recovering your laptop or securing your data.

To maximize your chances of recovery, always take preventive measures by enabling tracking features and installing anti-theft software before your laptop goes missing. Once your laptop gets stolen while you haven’t activated any of these software tracking and the device is never online, I don’t feel good saying this but you better lose your hopes of finding the laptop.